Written Answers Friday 15 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Broadcasting

Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to support local community radio stations.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that community radio stations make in engaging with local people and generating a sense of community identity and cohesion, and it has recently moved some of its radio advertising expenditure to support such aims through public information campaigns. Ofcom administers a UK-wide Community Radio Fund and public bodies, such as local authorities and enterprise companies, can support community radio stations.

Children and Young People

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23231 by Shona Robison on 7 May 2009, whether the £30 million from the Specialist Services for Children and Young People Fund that is not being allocated to child and adolescent mental health issues will also require match funding from NHS boards.

Shona Robison: The £30 million funding that has been allocated to Specialist Services for Children and Young People in Scotland will not require match funding from NHS boards.

Communities

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the CashBack for Communities fund for 2009 has been spent on rugby and what proportion of this has been spent in the east end of Glasgow.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23472 on 15 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) arrested, (b) charged, (c) prosecuted, (d) found guilty and (e) given a custodial sentence in cases involving (i) domestic violence, (ii) rape, (iii) violence against the person and (iv) burglary in the Lothian and Borders police force area in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: Data on numbers of arrests and charges are not held centrally. The recorded crime statistics held centrally do not contain information about the details of a crime, for instance the relationship between the victim and the accused for crimes of violence. The available information on recorded crime and on prosecutions and convictions is given in the following tables. Information in relation to prosecutions arising from incidents of domestic violence is not separately identifiable in the available statistics.

  The statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. A crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year. Crimes committed by children aged under 16 are also generally dealt with through the children’s hearings system rather than the courts.

  Number of Domestic Abuse, Rape, Crimes of Violence and Housebreaking Recorded in the Lothian and Borders Police Force area, 1999-2000 to 2007-08.

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Domestic Abuse:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Total incidents 
33,197
35,126
35,255
35,894
41,233
43,632
45,812
48,801
49,655


Total crimes and offences
14,659
13,947
13,931
15,673
21,598
21,833
23,991
23,803
24,834


(Of which reported to the procurator fiscal)
9,064
9,436
9,359
9,316
11,015
14,180
14,180
15,582
15,647


Rape
91
130
138
173
181
240
220
203
170


Crimes of violence1
2,751
2,809
2,685
3,110
2,856
2,736
2,588
2,869
2,644


Housebreaking2
7,754
6,206
6,184
5,864
6,280
6,141
6,677
5,854
5,405



  Notes:

  1. Includes group 1 crimes of violence (minus robbery), handling and possession of offensive weapons and reckless driving at common law.

  2. Includes dwellings, non-dwellings and other premises.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Crimes of Domestic Abuse, Rape, Crimes of Violence, Housebreaking in Lothian and Borders Police Force Area, 1999-2000 to 2007-08

  

Crimes
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Domestic Abuse1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Proceeded against
-
-
-
-
-
-
598
747
693


Charge Proved
-
-
-
-
-
-
553
666
635


Custodial 
-
-
-
-
-
-
46
63
64


Rape2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Proceeded against
13
14
19
15
19
21
13
14
17


Charge Proved
7
9
12
8
9
11
3
7
5


Custodial 
7
8
10
7
8
10
3
7
5


Crimes of violence2,3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Proceeded against
464
560
587
760
750
714
700
846
800


Charge Proved
368
465
475
607
612
575
568
665
656


Custodial 
127
188
140
207
213
200
174
226
217


Housebreaking2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Proceeded against
402
404
400
486
412
376
364
395
411


Charge Proved
354
357
352
425
359
334
325
344
354


Custodial 
158
175
193
206
176
157
137
167
163



  Notes:

  1. Includes all persons where a domestic abuse aggravator has been recorded against the main offence. Where the main offence was rape, crimes of violence or housebreaking they will also be included in the figures for the specific crime category in the remainder of the table. 2005-06 is the first year where it has been considered that the use and recording of domestic abuse aggravator codes from the Scottish Government Court Proceedings Database has been of sufficient coverage to be used.

  2. Where main offence. The figures for persons proceeded against may exclude some acquittals due to recording delays.

  3. Includes group 1 crimes of violence (minus robbery), handling and possession of offensive weapons and reckless driving at common law.

Domestic Abuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reported incidents of domestic violence were recorded for (a) male perpetrator, female victim, (b) male perpetrator, male victim, (c) female perpetrator, male victim and (d) female perpetrator, female victim in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: The following table shows the number of incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the eight Scottish police forces, broken down by gender of victim/perpetrator, for the period 1999-2000 to 2007-08. Please note that the earliest available year of information is 1999-2000.

  Domestic Abuse Incidents Recorded by the Police, 1999-2000 to 2007-08

  

 
MalePerpetrator,Female Victim
MalePerpetrator,Male Victim
Femaleperpetrator,Male victim
FemalePerpetrator,Female Victim
Not Recorded
Total


1999-2000
30,395
147
2,378
107
170
33,197


2000-01
32,122
173
2,696
121
14
35,126


2001-02
31,848
232
2,976
137
62
35,255


2002-03
31,971
286
3,245
232
160
35,894


2003-04
35,727
328
3,694
252
1,232
41,233


2004-05
37,509
380
4,534
362
848
43,633


2005-06
39,091
412
4,974
388
947
45,812


2006-07
41,498
452
5,489
430
932
48,801


2007-08
41,591
523
6,165
561
815
49,655



  Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  The information requested is taken from the series of statistical bulletins produced by the Scottish Government on domestic abuse. The latest publication, Domestic Abuse Recorded by the Police in Scotland 2007-08, is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47020).

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that mandatory drug testing for everybody arrested by the police has the potential to allow for more localised targeting of drug misuse campaigns and support.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23317 on 14 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns that planning for transition does not commence in sufficient time for young people with additional support needs leaving school, as set out in the code of practice for the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, planning for post-school transitions must begin at least one year prior to a child or young person leaving school.

  If the parent of a child with additional support needs, or a young person with additional support needs, felt that transitional arrangements were necessary and the authority disagreed with this, the parent or young person could refer the case to dispute resolution. If the child or young person has a co-ordinated support plan, a case can be referred to the additional support needs tribunals for Scotland, regarding the level of provision being delivered during the child’s or young person’s last year at school.

Financial Inclusion

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce provisions similar to those in the Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 to establish enforcement restriction orders.

Fergus Ewing: It is not currently our intention to introduce provisions similar to those proposed in the Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.

  Scottish debtors have had access to provisions which offer them protection against enforcement of debt by their creditors, since the introduction of the Debt Arrangement Scheme in November 2004. While a debt is being paid under the Debt Arrangement Scheme creditors cannot petition for the debtor’s bankruptcy and cannot enforce diligence. The Debt Arrangement Scheme also provides a moratorium against diligence for up to six weeks if a debtor registers their intention to pay their debts under Debt Arrangement Scheme.

  I intend to introduce regulations to improve access to the Debt Arrangement Scheme during this Parliament.

Financial Inclusion

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether courts can stay debt recovery actions for up to 12 months for individuals experiencing debt problems.

Fergus Ewing: There are a number of mechanisms available to individuals experiencing financial difficulties which, subject to sheriff approval, allow the repayment of debt without the threat of further legal action.

  The sheriff may grant a time to pay direction or order under the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987, for a period that the sheriff considers reasonable, based on the individual’s circumstances. These times to pay directions or orders may last for more than 12 months, however, this period is subject to the sheriff’s discretion.

  The sheriff may grant a time order for consumer contract debts, under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Time orders have slightly different criteria for sheriffs to consider before granting but otherwise are similar to time to pay directions and orders. Time orders may also last for more than 12 months at the sheriff’s discretion.

  Where a creditor has petitioned for an individual’s bankruptcy, a sheriff may continue the petition for such period as he sees fit, if that individual has applied for a debt payment programme under the Debt Arrangement Scheme.

Financial Inclusion

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is evidence, particularly from the last few months, of creditors instigating legal action earlier in the debt recovery process, as suggested by Citizens Advice Scotland.

Fergus Ewing: Creditors who wish to use legal means to pursue debt must do so by using a prescribed process. For example, a debtor must be served with a Debt Advice and Information Package prior to the instigation of legal action to recover debt. The debt must be constituted in court before diligence can be pursued. As creditors must follow this prescribed process, there is no opportunity available to them to instigate legal action earlier to recover debts owed than they have previously been able to.

  The decision on how long a creditor will allow a debtor to default on payment before taking legal action, is a commercial one. It is possible that creditors, in the current economic climate, are making business decisions to commence the process of recovery sooner than they may have previously.

  However, there is no evidence or mechanism to measure this.

Financial Inclusion

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which representatives of the co-operative and mutual sector are on the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group.

Keith Brown: At present there are no direct representatives from the co-operative and mutual sector on the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group.

Financial Inclusion

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which commercial banks are represented on the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education has representation from the following commercial banks on its advisory group:

  The Royal Bank of Scotland

  Clydesdale Bank

  Lloyds Banking Group.

Financial Inclusion

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group has had with credit unions since 1 January 2008.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE) has supported a number of financial inclusion initiatives supported by credit unions in Glasgow since 2006. These have included working with:

  Pollok Credit Union

  Greater Easterhouse Money Advice Project

  Greater Easterhouse Credit Union

  In addition, the SCFE is developing a Credit Union in Schools support pack in partnership with Glasgow City Council. This should be available later this year.

  A number of credit unions have also been involved in SCFE training events for teachers since 1 January 2008:

  Govan Credit Union

  Capital Credit Union

  East Ayrshire Credit Union

  Discovery Credit Union

  NESCU (North East Scotland Credit Union);

  Clackmannanshire Credit Union

  West Lothian Credit Union Forum

  Forres Area Credit Union,

  All of this activity has necessarily involved discussions between SCFE and credit unions.

Fire Service

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fires have been deliberately started in each year since 1999, broken down by fire and rescue service area.

Fergus Ewing: The number of fires classified as deliberate by the fire and rescue services are given in the following tables. The latest available published figures are for 2006.

  Deliberate Primary Fires in Scotland by Fire and Rescue Service Area, 1999 to 2006

  

Brigade Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Central
308
338
365
378
346
259
211
265


Dumfries
64
70
78
80
118
110
95
90


Fife
414
490
532
504
516
408
320
355


Grampian
480
500
513
579
544
367
413
379


Highland and Islands
127
120
131
111
127
92
96
88


Lothian and Borders
1,695
1,736
1,771
1,851
1,576
1,359
1,194
1,186


Strathclyde
4,924
4,954
4,777
4,409
4,129
3,572
3,181
3,131


Tayside
524
605
631
579
438
365
337
280


Total
8,536
8,813
8,798
8,491
7,794
6,532
5,847
5,774



  Source: FDR1.

  Notes:

  Includes late call, heat and smoke damage only incidents.

  Figures are based upon sample data weighted to Fire and Rescue Service totals.

  Estimates are not included for incidents occurring during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.

  Includes fires where deliberate ignition is merely suspected.

  Deliberate Secondary Fires in Scotland by Fire and Rescue Service Area, 1999 to 2006

  

Brigade Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Central
1,027
1,204
1,642
1,366
2,101
1,514
1,358
1,599


Dumfries
157
153
247
295
390
270
314
294


Fife
1,486
1,595
1,623
1,427
2,703
1,950
1,786
2,026


Grampian
1,221
1,245
1,466
1,481
2,162
1,273
1,507
1,404


Highland and Islands
316
347
528
463
578
325
313
341


Lothian and Borders
4,913
5,027
5,733
5,000
7,681
4,550
5,050
5,911


Strathclyde
15,010
17,866
20,288
15,814
23,922
16,330
16,471
11,761


Tayside
2,046
2,343
2,560
2,062
2,703
1,717
1,712
1,685


Total
26,176
29,780
34,087
27,908
42,240
27,929
28,511
25,021



  Source: FDR3.

  Notes:

  Includes late call, heat and smoke damage only incidents

  Figures are based upon sample data weighted to Fire and Rescue Service totals.

  Estimates are not included for incidents occurring during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.

  Includes fires where deliberate ignition is merely suspected.

  Total Deliberate Fires in Scotland by Fire and Rescue Service Area, 1999 to 2006

  

Brigade Area
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Central
1,335
1,542
2,007
1,744
2,447
1,773
1,569
1,864


Dumfries
221
223
325
375
508
380
409
384


Fife
1,900
2,085
2,155
1,931
3,219
2,358
2,106
2,381


Grampian
1,701
1,745
1,979
2,060
2,706
1,640
1,920
1,783


Highland and Islands
443
467
659
574
705
417
409
429


Lothian and Borders
6,608
6,763
7,504
6,851
9,257
5,909
6,244
7,097


Strathclyde
19,934
22,820
25,065
20,223
28,051
19,902
19,652
14,892


Tayside
2,570
2,948
3,191
2,641
3,141
2,082
2,049
1,965


Total
34,712
38,593
42,885
36,399
50,034
34,461
34,358
30,795



  Source: FDR1 and FDR3 Forms.

  Notes:

  Includes late call, heat and smoke damage only incidents.

  Figures are based upon sample data weighted to Fire and Rescue Service totals.

  Estimates are not included for incidents occurring during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003

  Includes fires where deliberate ignition is merely suspected.

Fire Service

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoax emergency calls there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by fire and rescue service (FRS) area.

Fergus Ewing: The number of deliberate false alarms is given in the following table. The latest available published figures are for 2006.

  Deliberate False Fire Alarms by FRS Area, Scotland, 1999 to 2006

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


Central
477
459
399
421
376
321
334
355


Dumfries
157
73
82
80
52
44
41
47


Fife
603
627
486
432
423
361
226
158


Grampian
307
330
318
346
276
247
251
238


Highland and Islands
294
262
281
331
275
218
196
116


Lothian and Borders
1,425
1,265
1,253
1,173
1,247
1,136
1,110
897


Strathclyde
4,241
4,536
4,799
4,283
3,812
3,690
3,304
3,128


Tayside
509
529
487
468
393
333
300
337


Total
8,013
8,081
8,105
7,534
6,854
6,350
5,762
5,276



  Source: Fire Statistics Scotland Bulletin.

  Notes:

  Includes late call, heat and smoke damage only incidents.

  Figures are based upon sample data weighted to Fire and Rescue Service totals.

  Estimates are not included for incidents occurring during periods of industrial action in 2002 and 2003.

  Includes fires where deliberate ignition is merely suspected.

Fire Service

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost has been of responding to deliberately started fires in each year since 1999, broken down by fire and rescue service area.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not available to the level of detail requested. However, limited information is available in the report Economic Cost of Fire: Estimates for 2004 published by the Office of The Deputy Prime Minister in April 2006. Table 4.5 of the report indicates that the average response cost to deliberate fires across the UK were estimated to be £2,230. A copy of the full report is available on the website of CLG using the following link:

  http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/144524.pdf.

Fire Service

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost has been of responding to hoax emergency calls in each year since 1999, broken down by fire and rescue service area.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not available to the level of detail requested. However, limited information is available in the report Economic Cost of Fire: Estimates for 2004 published by the Office of The Deputy Prime Minister in April 2006. The report indicates on page 36 that the average response cost of responding to a false alarm across the UK was estimated to be £1,970. A copy of the full report is available on the website of communities and local government using the following link.

  http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/144524.pdf.

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of phasing out incandescent bulbs on people affected by lupus and other conditions inducing light sensitivity.

Shona Robison: Possible health concerns related to the provisions of European Framework Directive 2005/32/EC and the related Working document on possible ecodesign requirements for general lighting equipment are being taken forward on a UK-wide basis as this is a reserve matter.

  The UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responded to the Commission on behalf of the UK, and this included reference to particular concerns raised by clinicians and patient support groups that some medical conditions could be affected by phasing out incandescent lamps.

  Further to this correspondence, the UK Health Protection Agency carried out work to characterise the output from low energy output bulbs and their impact on health, and their findings have been taken into account by the EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) in providing advice on "Light Sensitivity". This SCENIHR opinion was published on 3 October 2008 and can be viewed on:

  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_019.pdf.

  The committee found that the only potential risk factor for the aggravation of the light-sensitive symptoms associated with emissions from energy saving lamps was UV/blue light, and noted that the use of double envelope energy saving bulbs or similar technology would mitigate this risk.

  The Scottish Government along with relevant UK Government Departments are continuing to work with HPA, the lighting industry and patient groups to improve standards further on ultraviolet emissions from low energy lamps.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the HIV action plan will be published.

Shona Robison: An HIV Action Plan for Scotland will be published in June 2009.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue new guidance on needle exchange following the publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance in February 2009.

Shona Robison: National guidelines for services providing injection equipment to injecting drug users are currently being developed by a Guideline Development Group established under the Phase 2 Hepatitis C Action Plan. The guideline will be published by July 2009.

Housing

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many second homes there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold numbers of second homes and long-term empty properties at parliamentary constituency level. However, the numbers of second homes and long-term empty properties in Scotland for the years 2005 to 2008, broken down by local authority, are shown in the following tables.

  Figures are as reported in the Council Tax Base returns for the relevant year. They include both second homes and long-term empty properties as some local authorities are unable to split between these two categories. Therefore care should be taken when looking at individual figures.

  The introduction of legislation to allow local authorities to vary the level of discounts applied to second homes and long term empty properties from April 2005 prompted the collection of data on these properties. Prior to this, information was only collected on the number of properties receiving 25% discounts and the number receiving 50% discounts. Hence it is not possible to separately identify long-term empty properties and second homes prior to 2005.

  Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties by Local Authority - 20081,2,3

  

 
Number of Second Homes
Number of Long-Term Empty Properties
Total


Scotland
35,036
22,784
57,820


Aberdeen City
1,839
990
2,829


Aberdeenshire
1,274
1,639
2,913


Angus
429
1,357
1,786


Argyll and Bute
3,860
571
4,431


Clackmannanshire
338
-
338


Dumfries and Galloway
1,772
695
2,467


Dundee City
627
942
1,569


East Ayrshire
213
523
736


East Dunbartonshire
198
169
367


East Lothian
258
619
877


East Renfrewshire
101
240
341


Edinburgh, City of
3,926
2,393
6,319


Eilean Siar
862
301
1,163


Falkirk
530
374
904


Fife
3,631
1,483
5,114


Glasgow City
1,245
1,740
2,985


Highland
4,639
1,119
5,758


Inverclyde
216
763
979


Midlothian
156
64
220


Moray
577
753
1,330


North Ayrshire
1,551
1,013
2,564


North Lanarkshire
283
438
721


Orkney Islands
421
163
584


Perth and Kinross
1,727
577
2,304


Renfrewshire
1,198
-
1,198


Scottish Borders
1,049
1,111
2,160


Shetland Islands
147
399
546


South Ayrshire
661
309
970


South Lanarkshire
412
757
1,169


Stirling
669
176
845


West Dunbartonshire
144
397
541


West Lothian
83
709
792



  Source: 2008 CTAXBASE return.

  1. Figures represent the number of adjusted chargeable dwellings that are either 2nd homes or long-term empty properties.

  2. Some councils are unable to split the number of 2nd homes and long-term empty properties, so individual figures should be interpreted with care.

  3. Where councils have been unable to split the two categories, the combined total has been entered in the category indicated on their CTAXBASE return.

  Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties by Local Authority - 20071,2,3

  

 
Number of Second Homes
Number of Long-Term Empty Properties
Total


Scotland
35,057
20,328
55,385


Aberdeen City
1,552
1,207
2,759


Aberdeenshire
1,374
1,541
2,915


Angus
434
18
452


Argyll and Bute
3,781
590
4,371


Clackmannanshire
334
-
334


Dumfries and Galloway
1,736
673
2,409


Dundee City
462
1,114
1,576


East Ayrshire
154
593
747


East Dunbartonshire
168
185
353


East Lothian
238
560
798


East Renfrewshire
95
231
326


Edinburgh, City of
3,574
2,356
5,930


Eilean Siar
864
301
1,165


Falkirk
497
364
861


Fife
4,494
722
5,216


Glasgow City
1,066
1,501
2,567


Highland
4,754
999
5,753


Inverclyde
222
787
1,009


Midlothian
137
53
190


Moray
579
628
1,207


North Ayrshire
1,623
989
2,612


North Lanarkshire
284
508
792


Orkney Islands
367
161
528


Perth and Kinross
1,936
577
2,513


Renfrewshire
1,221
-
1,221


Scottish Borders
1,033
1,088
2,121


Shetland Islands
160
389
549


South Ayrshire
639
324
963


South Lanarkshire
443
520
963


Stirling
647
165
812


West Dunbartonshire
123
551
674


West Lothian
66
633
699



  Source: 2007 CTAXBASE return.

  Notes:

  1. Figures represent the number of adjusted chargeable dwellings that are either 2nd homes or long-term empty properties

  2. Some councils are unable to split the number of 2nd homes and long terms empty properties, so individual figures should be interpreted with care

  3. Where councils have been unable to split the two categories, the combined total has been entered in the category indicated on their CTAXBASE return.

  Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties by Local Authority - 20061,2,3

  

 
Number of Second Homes
Number of Long-Term Empty Properties
Total


Scotland
36,167
16,656
52,823


Aberdeen City
1,701
1,177
2,878


Aberdeenshire
1,406
1,545
2,951


Angus
429
-
429


Argyll and Bute
3,655
573
4,228


Clackmannanshire
364
-
364


Dumfries and Galloway
1,746
686
2,432


Dundee City
1,495
-
1,495


East Ayrshire
153
480
633


East Dunbartonshire
146
173
319


East Lothian
246
547
793


East Renfrewshire
95
209
304


Edinburgh, City of
3,459
1,437
4,896


Eilean Siar
843
224
1,067


Falkirk
550
355
905


Fife
3,678
1,114
4,792


Glasgow City
1,041
1,245
2,286


Highland
5,835
-
5,835


Inverclyde
243
802
1,045


Midlothian
91
45
136


Moray
574
640
1,214


North Ayrshire
1,543
677
2,220


North Lanarkshire
319
721
1,040


Orkney Islands
369
181
550


Perth and Kinross
1,759
489
2,248


Renfrewshire
1,162
-
1,162


Scottish Borders
1,032
1,028
2,060


Shetland Islands
169
234
403


South Ayrshire
679
400
1,079


South Lanarkshire
561
428
989


Stirling
630
160
790


West Dunbartonshire
131
563
694


West Lothian
63
523
586



  Source: 2006 CTAXBASE return

  Notes:

  1. Figures represent the number of adjusted chargeable dwellings that are either 2nd homes or long-term empty properties

  2. Some councils are unable to split the number of 2nd homes and long-term empty properties, so individual figures should be interpreted with care

  3. Where councils have been unable to split the two categories, the combined total has been entered in the category indicated on their CTAXBASE return.

  Second Homes and Long Term Empty Properties by Local Authority - 20051,2,3

  

 
Number of Second Homes
Number of Long-Term Empty Properties
Total


Scotland
39,842
15,313
55,155


Aberdeen City
2,081
626
2,707


Aberdeenshire
1,457
1,375
2,832


Angus
458
-
458


Argyll and Bute
3,414
392
3,806


Clackmannanshire
384
-
384


Dumfries and Galloway
1,705
708
2,413


Dundee City
1,458
-
1,458


East Ayrshire
151
425
576


East Dunbartonshire
329
-
329


East Lothian
276
589
865


East Renfrewshire
69
241
310


Edinburgh, City of
3,031
1,239
4,270


Eilean Siar
1,207
-
1,207


Falkirk
464
606
1,070


Fife
4,111
669
4,780


Glasgow City
-
4,571
4,571


Highland
5,850
-
5,850


Inverclyde
1,260
-
1,260


Midlothian
81
40
121


Moray
619
638
1,257


North Ayrshire
2,298
-
2,298


North Lanarkshire
375
608
983


Orkney Islands
286
293
579


Perth and Kinross
2,766
-
2,766


Renfrewshire
1,402
-
1,402


Scottish Borders
2,167
-
2,167


Shetland Islands
195
336
531


South Ayrshire
677
336
1,013


South Lanarkshire
535
511
1,046


Stirling
566
245
811


West Dunbartonshire
100
696
796


West Lothian
70
169
239



  Source: 2005 CTAXBASE return.

  1. Figures represent the number of adjusted chargeable dwellings that are either 2nd homes or long-term empty properties.

  2. Some councils are unable to split the number of 2nd homes and long-term empty properties, so individual figures should be interpreted with care.

  3. Where councils have been unable to split the two categories, the combined total has been entered in the category indicated on their CTAXBASE return.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many enforcement staff are employed in each local authority to ensure the implementation of the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords contained in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.

Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what purpose the income gained from registration under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords is used.

Alex Neil: It is for local authorities to determine locally how fee income from landlord registration will be used.

  However, it is the Scottish Government’s intention that the income gained from registration be used for the purposes of administering and enforcing the Private Landlord Registration scheme.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that checks should be made on payments of housing benefit and council tax benefit to tenants to ensure that all privately rented properties receiving funding are managed by landlords registered under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government guidance for local authorities on private landlord registration encourages landlord registration teams to make appropriate links with colleagues across other council departments including housing benefit and council tax benefit officers, to ensure that information is shared and any concerns about particular landlords are brought to the attention of the landlord registration team.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many unregistered landlords are unlawfully letting property for which local authorities pay out housing and council tax benefits.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many routine inspections of rented properties have been carried out as a result of information held under the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unregistered landlords in the private sector have been prosecuted for failing to register in the first three years of the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: There have been no prosecutions under the Private Landlord Registration scheme.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities request sight of tenancy agreements with regard to the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally.

  When assessing a landlord as fit and proper the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 prescribes the material the local authority must take into account. It is for individual local authorities to determine what other information it will consider in determining the fitness of local landlords.

Housing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many landlords have been found not to be a fit and proper person to act as a landlord as a result of the implementation of the National Registration Scheme for Private Landlords.

Alex Neil: Ten landlords have been refused registration under the Private Landlord Registration scheme and one landlord has had their registration revoked.

  The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 requires local authorities to work with landlords to try and improve their practice before refusing to register a landlord.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have broken the terms of their bail conditions in the Lothian and Borders police force area in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. The figures for bail offences exclude reoffending on bail. The table also gives figures on the total number of bail offences with a charge proved expressed as a percentage of the number of bail orders granted in each year in the Lothian and Borders area. Although this is not strictly a like with like comparison due, for example, to different counting bases and reference periods, it provides useful context to the figures.

  Bail Offences1 with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts, Lothian and Borders Police Force Area 2003-04 to 2007-08

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Number of bail offences1
507
630
767
1,004
1,007


Number of bail orders granted
7,137
7,924
9,043
9,875
10,033


Bail offences1 with a charge proved expressed as a % of bail orders granted
7
8
8
10
10



  Note: 1. Excludes reoffending while on bail.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many gun-related crimes there were in the Lothian and Borders police force area in each of the last 10 years.

Kenny MacAskill: Recorded Crimes and Offences in which a firearm 1  was alleged to have been used,

  Lothian and Borders Police Force, 1998-99 to 2007-08

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


Lothian and Borders
242
227
225
214
297


 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Lothian and Borders
329
407
418
315
266



  Source: Scottish Government annual collection of Recorded Crimes and Offences involving firearms.

  Note: 1. Does not include miscellaneous firearms offences such as possession, handling and distribution of weapons and ammunition.

  Recorded Miscellaneous Firearms Offences1, Lothian and Borders Police Force, 1998-99 to 2007-08

  

 
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


Lothian and Borders
41
27
26
36
35


 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Lothian and Borders
59
102
136
160
142



  Source: Scottish Government Recorded Crimes and Offences data collection.

  Note: 1. Mainly offences related to possession, handling and distribution of weapons and ammunition.

Justice

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the findings of the inquiry, chaired by Lord Gill, into the explosion at the ICL Plastics factory in Glasgow in 2004.

Fergus Ewing: The ICL Inquiry is an independent inquiry established jointly by the Scottish ministers and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under the Inquiries Act 2005. The act provides that the way in which the Inquiry is conducted, including the delivery of a report to ministers, is entirely a matter for the Inquiry chairman. We fully recognise the time commitment required to produce such a report and we look forward to receiving it in due course, and arranging for its publication thereafter.

Local Government Finance

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the real-terms increase is in the local government settlement for East Renfrewshire Council for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 and in the proposed budget for 2010-11.

John Swinney: As a result of the concordat agreement, funding for local government changed fundamentally from 1 April 2008 with the rolling-up of the vast majority of former ring-fenced grants into the local government finance settlements. As a consequence there is no directly comparable funding figure for 2007-08.

  However, using broadly comparable figures for 2007-08, the estimated year-on-year real terms increases in the local government settlement for East Renfrewshire Council for 2008-09 was £3.1 million or 1.8 per cent. The actual real terms increase for 2009-10 is £9.9 million or 5.7 per cent.

  At this stage it would be misleading to give out figures for 2010-11, when final decisions have still to be taken by the Scottish Government on the impact of the UK Government’s decision to impose a cut of almost £500 million in the Scottish Budget.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of people (a) dealing and (b) using illegal drugs have been reported in each psychiatric unit in each of the last 10 years.

Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government does not hold individualised data on any crimes or offences recorded by the eight police forces in Scotland, and as such does not hold information on the location at which the crime took place. As such it is not possible to identify how many incidents there have been of people dealing or using illegal drugs in psychiatric units in the last 10 years.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been of people (a) dealing and (b) using illegal drugs in psychiatric units in each of the last 10 years.

Fergus Ewing: Details of the places that crimes were committed are not held on the Scottish Government Court Proceedings database.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people have been introduced to illegal drugs as a result of a residential stay in an NHS psychiatric unit.

Shona Robison: This information requested is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to identify children with mental health issues at nursery, primary and secondary school.

Shona Robison: We are promoting early identification of, and early interventions to address, mental health issues in children and young people in all school settings.

  The Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care, our policy on children and young people’s mental health is underpinned by the principles of promoting good mental health, prevention and early detection of mental health issues across settings. A named mental health link worker is available to every school and is a key part of co-ordinating this activity.

  The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 places duties on education authorities to make provisions for the support needs of individual children and young people. Education authorities must identify, support and review the needs of all children with additional support needs, including children with mental health issues.

  Getting it Right for Every Child is our overarching programme to improve outcomes for all children and young people and includes a commitment to a co-ordinated and unified approach across all agencies, including nursery, primary and secondary schools, to identify and address mental health issues. Working with and involving children and young people and their families and carers in meeting those aims is a key component of this. This approach emphasises joint working and information sharing between professional groups to identify children’s needs and risk factors.

  The Early Years Framework reinforces attention to early intervention for children up to 8 years, including developing the ability of all professionals – including nursery staff, teachers and school nurses - to detect issues of concern and to refer to specialists where appropriate.

  We are also piloting the delivery of effective healthcare – including mental health care – in school settings, in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley and West Lothian.

Minimum Wage

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its employees or employees of its agencies are paid less than the national minimum wage.

John Swinney: All staff in the Scottish Government and its agencies are paid more than the highest level of the national minimum wage.

Planning

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the individuals and organisations invited to the planning reform progress and e-planning launch event on 29 April 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: The individuals and organisations invited to the event on the 29 April 2009 were:

  

Last Name
First Name
Organisation


Lloyd 
Greg
 


Tombs
Sebastian
A+DS


Young 
Raymond
A+DS


Ross 
Rod
Aberdeen Asset Management


Jennings
David
Aberdeen City and shire SDPA


Bochel
Margaret
Aberdeen City Council


Cassie
Scott 
Aberdeen City Council


Ananin
Nick
Aberdeenshire Council


Argyle
Peter
Aberdeenshire Council


Gore
Christine
Aberdeenshire Council


MacLeary
Alistair
Administrative Justice & Tribunal Council


McKie
Alastair 
Anderson Strathern LLP


Berry
John
Angelo Irish Bank


Myles
Bob
Angus Council


Sawers
David
Angus Council


Gilmour
Angus 
Argyll and Bute Council


Kelly
Daniel
Argyll and Bute Council


Macintyre
Robert
Argyll and Bute Council


Gunning
Frank
Association of Scottish Community Councils


Johnson
Ian
Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan


Strachan
Tony
Bank of England


Peet
Nick
Bank of Scotland


Johnston
Phillip
Barclays


Shaw
Murray
Biggart Baillie LLP


Stirling
Mark 
British Land Company PLC


Polson
Alison
Brodies LLP


Peck
David
Buccleuch Property


Waugh
Nick
Buccleuch Property


Astwood
Jonathan
Building Standards.


Dodds 
Bill
Building Standards.


Dewar
Emma
Burness LLP


Bryden
Duncan
Cairngorms


McKee
Don
Cairngorms


Rinning
Andy
Cairngorms


Ball
Geoff
Cala Group


MacConnell
Alastair
Cala Properties Ltd


Batts 
Dennis
Caledonian Heritable


Fitzsimons
Jim
Capella Developments


Bell
David
CB Richard Ellis


Londsdale
David
CBI Scotland


Thorburn
David
CBI Scotland


Bury
John
City of Edinburgh Council


Leslie
David
City of Edinburgh Council


Lowry
Jim
City of Edinburgh Council


Bell
Stephen
Clackmannanshire Council


Carrick
 
Clackmannanshire Council


Hensman
Will
Clackmannanshire Council


Bray
Keith
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar


Ferguson 
Morag 
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar


Cameron
Kathy
COSLA


Fowlie
James
COSLA


Gupta
Anil 
COSLA


Hay
Alison
COSLA 


Rough
Stewart
Dawn Developments


Russell
Stewart
Dawn Group


Telfer
Sandy
DLA Piper


Gil
Oonagh
DPEA


Totten
Carol
DPEA


Hare
Bruce A
Duddingston House Properties


Bell
David
Dumfries and Galloway Council


Suttie
David
Dumfries and Galloway Council


Faulds
Ann
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP


Uren
Graham
Dundas & Wilson CS LLP


Anderson
Rory
Dundee City Council


Dawson
Will
Dundee City Council


Galloway
Mike
Dundee City Council


Kellie
Gordon
Dunedin Property


Brown
Alan
East Ayrshire Council


Houston
Margo
East Ayrshire Council


Neish
Alan
East Ayrshire Council


Cooper
Nigel
East Dunbartonshire Council


Hunter
Neill
East Dunbartonshire Council


Hutchinson
 
East Dunbartonshire Council


Blackie
Alan
East Lothian Council


Collins
Pete
East Lothian Council


Devine 
Joe
East Renfrewshire Council


Phillips
Eddie
East Renfrewshire Council


Shankland
Graham
East Renfrewshire Council


Di Ciacca
John Mark
Edi Group Ltd


McKinlay
Andy
Ediston Properties 


O’Neil
Danny
Ediston Properties 


Carmichael
Alasdair
Elphinstone Group Ltd


Ross
Ken
Elphinstone Group Ltd


Quartermain
Steve
England


Anderson
Avril 
ePlanning Team


Bartch
Carla
ePlanning Team


Begg
Susan
ePlanning Team


Jones
Graham
ePlanning Team


Kemp
Neill
ePlanning Team


Liddle
Amanda
ePlanning Team


Mitchell
Juliette
ePlanning Team


Moore
Tom
ePlanning Team


Pringle
Liz
ePlanning Team


Robinson
Maryanna
ePlanning Team


Smillie
Lesley
ePlanning Team


Wilson
Robert
ePlanning Team


Young 
Fiona
ePlanning Team


Angell
John
Falkirk Council


Dryden
Ian 
Falkirk Council


McAuley
Janet
Falkirk Council


Beare
John
Fife Council


Keith
Winter
Fife Council


Langhorn
Neil
Forestry Commission Scotland


Vallance
Keith
Forrest Developments


Sullivan
Michaela
Forth Ports


Stewart
David
Forth Valley GIS


Blair
Archie
GL Hearn 


Campbell
David 
GL Hearn


Finc 
Rick
GL Hearn 


Buchan
Grahame
Glasgow and the Clyde Valley JSP


MacDonald
Alistair
Glasgow City Council


Adams
David
Glasgow University


McGlip
Niall
Goodman International


Kelly
Ian
Graham & Sibbald


Irvine
John
Grosvenor


Sivewright
David
Grosvenor


Mappin
Gary
GVA Grimley


Scott
Paul
GVA Grimley


Slipper
Richard
GVA Grimley


Richards
John
Hammerson Plc


Hargest
Keith
Hargest & Wallace Planning Ltd


Bewsey
Martin
Heath Lambert


Perry 
Martin
Henderson Global Investors


Prior
Alan
Heriot-Watt University


Hartland
Richard
Highland Council


Mills-Bishop 
Phil
Highland Council


Ross
William (Ian)
Highland Council


Duckworth
Roger
Highland Development


Cooper
Malcolm
Historic Scotland


MacSween
Ann
Historic Scotland


Scott
Mike
Historic Scotland


Fair
Jonathan
Homes For Scotland


Lundmark
Allan
Homes For Scotland


Hunter
David
Hunter Advisers


Falconer
Maureen
ICO


Critchley 
Mark
IDOX


Kellettt-Clarke
Richard
IDOX


Riley
Andrew
IDOX


Sime
Andy
IDOX


Wardle
Eric
IDOX


O’Hagan
Kate
Improvement Service


MacBean
Keith
Inverclyde Council


Williamson
Fraser
Inverclyde Council


Wilson
David
Inverclyde Council


Bell
David
Jones Lang LaSalle


Winter
Stewart
Jones Lang LaSalle


Grant
Jeff
Kenmore Property Group


Kennedy
John
Kenmore Property Group


Fraser
Lynsey 
Keppie Planning 


Fothergill 
Derek 
Kier Scotland


Wotherspoon
Iain
Kilmartin Property Group Ltd


Barrack
James 
Knight Property Group


Smith
David
Land Securities PLC


McFetridge
Ruth
LaSalle Investment Management


McChlery
Francis
Law Society of Scotland 


Carmichael
Colin
Lloyds TSB Scotland


Blue
Allyson
Loch Lomond & Trossachs


Levinthal 
Terry
Loch Lomond & Trossachs


Watson
Gordon
Loch Lomond & Trossachs


Kampff 
Mick
lomond Group


Seath 
Alan 
Lomond Group


Noble
Joe
Macdonald Estates


Simpson
Gillian
Maclay Murray & Spens


Pirie
Sarah
MacRoberts


Mickel
Andrew
Mactaggart & Mickel


Campbell
Karen
Maxim


Ballantyne
Jennifer
McGrigors LLP


Johnson
Ian
Midlothian Council


Wallace
Neil
Midlothian Council


Young 
Ian L
Midlothian Council


Graham
Colin
Miller Developments


Miller
Phil
Miller Developments


Mather MSP
Jim
Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism


Cree
Stewart
Moray Council


Halkett
Stewart
Moray Council


Berry
Nick
Mountgrange Capital PLC


Levy
David
Mountgrange Capital PLC


Muir
Ronnie
Muir Group


Watt
John
Muir Group


Davies
Jestyn
Murray Estates


Chisholm
Iain 
North Ayrshire Council


Kelly
Martin
North Ayrshire Council


Miller
James
North Ayrshire Council


Snodgrass OBE
Ian
North Ayrshire Council


Baxter
David
North Lanarkshire Council


Coyle
Jim
North Lanarkshire Council


McCabe
Jim
North Lanarkshire Council


Smith
Maggie
Northern Ireland


Bowman
Sue
Ogilvie


Gillon
Margaret
Orkney Islands Council


Russell
Alison
Orkney Islands Council


Swinney
Kenny
Orkney Islands Council


Bean
Roland 
Perth and Kinross Council


Gaunt
Ann
Perth and Kinross Council


Murray
Brenda
Perth and Kinross Council


Stanley
Andrew
Pettifer Developments


Allan
Peter
Planning Aid for Scotland


Biberbach
Petra
Planning Aid for Scotland


Tudhope
Ian
Premier Property Group


Fyfe
Alison
Property Venture, UK Corporate Banking, RBS


Cottmore
Will
PRUPIM Ltd


Gallacher
Bill
Renfrewshire Council


Nicolson
Iain
Renfrewshire Council


Russell
Crawford
Renfrewshire Council


Baxter
Neil
RIAS


Smith
Colin
RICS Scotland


Walker
Bruce 
Robertson Homes


Stevenson
John
RPS plc


Burbridge
Veronica
RTPI


Esslemont
John
RTPI


Morton
Fiona
Ryden LLP


Tough
David
Ryden LLP


Forrest
Tom
SAIC


Hall
Ken
SAIC


Laughlin
Thomas 
SAIC


McDonald
James
SAIC


McMahon
Brigid 
SAIC


Wilcox
Sue
Sainsburys


Wood
Alastair 
Savills


Frater
Brian
Scottish Borders Council


Riddell-Carre 
Carolyn
Scottish Borders Council


Rowlett 
Liz
Scottish Disabilities Equality Forum


Cooper 
Stewart 
Scottish Government


Cunningham
Roseanna
Scottish Government


Ewing
John
Scottish Government


Foulis
Mike
Scottish Government


Goudie
Andrew
Scottish Government


Graham
Barry
Scottish Government


Lochhead
Richard
Scottish Government


Mackinnon
Jim
Scottish Government


Manzie
Stella
Scottish Government


Mason
John
Scottish Government


McNairney
John
Scottish Government


Neil
Alex
Scottish Government


Russell
Mike
Scottish Government


Russell
Peter
Scottish Government


Smith
Carrie
Scottish Government


Steele
Howard
Scottish Government


Stephen 
Suzanne
Scottish Government


Stevenson
Stewart
Scottish Government


Swinney
John
Scottish Government


Trotter
Neil
Scottish Government


Walker
Grieg
Scottish Government


Wilson
David
Scottish Government


Botham
Maggie
Scottish Natural Heritage


Clark
Jane
Scottish Natural Heritage


Thin
Andrew
Scottish Natural Heritage


Macdonald
Dan
Scottish Property Federation


Melhuish 
David
Scottish Property Federation


Sheridan
John
Scottish Quarry Products Association


Moriarty
Fiona
Scottish Retail Consortium


Hamill
Claire
Scottish Water


Petch
Leo
Scottish Water


Phillips
Keith
Scottish Water


Naish
Malcolm
Scottish Widows Investment Partnership


Patterson
Jill
Scottish Young Planners Group


Anderson
Tom
SEPA


Bayes
Colin
SEPA


Green 
Jo
SEPA


White 
Linda
SESplan


MacLeod
Ewan
Shepherd and Wedderburn


McDiarmid
Iain
Shetland Islands Council


McCall.
Stewart
South Ayrshire Council


McClelland
Mike
South Ayrshire Council


Peterkin
Graham
South Ayrshire Council


Toner
Margaret
South Ayrshire Council


Colin
Mcdowall
South Lanarkshire Council


Granger
Anne
South Lanarkshire Council


Burton 
Tony
SPEL


Linton
Shirley 
SSDP


Thompson
David
SSDP


Watt
Mark 
Standard Life Investments Ltd


Deans
Malcolm
Stewart Milne Developments


Milne
Stewart
Stewart Milne Group


Dawson
Jay
Stirling Council


Morgan
Peter
Stirling Council


Whyte
David
Stirling Council


Lindsay
Ken
Stockland


Sherrif
Brian
Stockland


Naghshireh
Ardeshir
Targetfollow Estates Limited


Ewen
Pam
Tayplan 


Glover
George
Terrace Hill Group


Kelly
Mandy
Terrace Hill Group


Thornton
Doug
Tesco


Train
Ben
Tesco


Rankin
Alasdair
The Crown Estate


Hyde Peyton
Courtney 
Third Wave


James
Caroline
Tods Murray


Barton
Jim
Transport Scotland


Brannen
Roy
Transport Scotland


Duffy
Frances
Transport Scotland


Hughes
Richard
Tulloch Homes


Holder
Robin
Turley Associates


Dool
Ronnie
Turner & Townsend plc


Easton
Gary
Turner & Townsend plc


Neill
Bill
University of Aberdeen


Kirk
David
University of Dundee


Phillips 
Jeff
Wales


Warner
Philip
Warner Estates


Hunter
Colin
Waterfront Edinburgh


Finn
Jim
West Dunbartonshire Council


Gregor 
Alasdair
West Dunbartonshire Council


Wight
Stephen
West Dunbartonshire Council


Day
Martin
West Lothian Council


Dickson
Jim
West Lothian Council


McLucas
Steve
West Lothian Council


Kilgour
David
Whiteburn Group Ltd


Shepherd
John
Whiteburn Group Ltd

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have been diagnosed with any form of mental health problem in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have been diagnosed as having severe and enduring mental health problems in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners experiencing severe and enduring mental health problems are subject to the Act2Care strategy.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are receiving medication or other treatment for mental health problems, broken down by type of treatment.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available. However, the 2008 SPS Prisoner Survey reports that one in five prisoners have accessed their current establishment’s mental health services, and that around a third of prisoners do not feel optimistic about their future, good about themselves or cheerful.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners with mental health problems have accessed advocacy support in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners experiencing mental health problems have been transferred to medical facilities in each of the last five years.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Centrally collated data regarding all transfers to medical facilities of prisoners experiencing mental health problems is only available from October 2005. Prior to this date the transfer of untried prisoners was not centrally recorded. The following table provides details of the numbers of prisoners transferred from 2004-08, however, data for 2004 and the majority of 2005 related to sentenced prisoners only.

  

Year
No. of Sentenced Prisoners Transferred
No. of Untried Transferred


2008
27
30


2007
29
20


2006
41
34


2005
30
6


2004
26
N/A

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how often medical assessments are carried out in prisons in order to identify prisoners experiencing mental health problems.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Medical assessments by a member of the establishment’s Nursing team and General Practitioner are carried out on all prisoners when admitted to an establishment. This includes a screening for mental health problems.

  Additionally a prisoner can request, at any time, a mental health assessment through the submission of a self referral. Provisions are also available for staff to refer on behalf of the prisoner or where they have concern for the prisoner’s mental health and wellbeing. On receipt of these referrals assessments are conducted by a Registered Mental Health Nurse.

Public Appointments

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to deliver its obligations under Diversity Delivers.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the website referred to in the implementation plan for Diversity Delivers will be operational.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the recommendations of the implementation group in relation to Diversity Delivers and how that commitment is demonstrated.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government remains committed to Diversity Delivers.

  It is demonstrating its commitment to Diversity Delivers and the Diversity Delivers Implementation group through officials continuing to play an active role as key members of the Implementation group. The Implementation group’s role is to oversee the implementation of the recommendations in the strategy.

  Flowing from the Implementation group a number of steps have been taken to implement the recommendations. These include:

  The piloting of new application methods;

  The production of a DVD promoting public appointments;

  A dedicated public appointments website launched in May this year;

  An enhanced monitoring form currently being discussed with the commissioner’s office, and

  A database to assist with appointments information handling has been created and is in use for new appointment rounds;

  The Scottish Government will consider other recommendations in due course.

Public Appointments

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific diversity training members of selection panels for public appointments have received in relation to Diversity Delivers; who delivered such training, and, if delivered by an external organisation, what the cost was.

John Swinney: There has been no diversity training arranged for members of selection panels for public appointments rounds so far. The diversity training recommendation included in Diversity Delivers is scheduled for review by the Diversity Delivers Implementation Group in July this year and action will be progressed in due course once work on another recommendation has been completed.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21825 by Keith Brown on 27 March 2009, how many of the new or refurbished schools referred to had their outline business cases agreed before May 2007.

Keith Brown: Outline business cases for school building projects, whatever the means of procurement, can be subject to significant revision before the project proceeds to construction. The Scottish Government, like the Scottish Executive previously, does not agree outline business cases for school building projects. At all stages they remain matters for local authorities.

Scottish Government Expenditure

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21202 by John Swinney on 12 March 2009, for what reason it does not hold information centrally on the number of conferences and other events that it has supported since May 2007 and at what cost; whether this information is held anywhere and, if so, where it is held.

John Swinney: Running conferences and events can be an effective way to consult on policy development. Such activity is undertaken routinely across government and central advice and good practice guidance is available to support it. The costs of such activity is monitored and managed at the level of individual business units in line with the general delegation of financial responsibilities.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16056 by Maureen Watt on 16 September 2008, what progress has been made in evaluating and sharing good practice resulting from the 69 anti-sectarianism projects rolled out in schools since 2006.

Keith Brown: Project evaluations have indicated success in raising awareness of sectarianism at a local level. Good practice examples have been shared through the anti-sectarian website Don’t Give It, Don’t Take It at http://ltscotland.org.uk/antisectarian/

  My officials are in on-going discussions with Learning and Teaching Scotland, to identify the best means of further disseminating the successful outcomes of these projects.

Sectarianism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will provide to support anti-sectarianism projects in schools during the 2009-10 academic year.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding in local government, £23 billion for the period 2008-10, to enable education authorities to respond appropriately to their own local needs and priorities. This includes anti-sectarianism initiatives.

  In addition, the Scottish Government is match funding local authorities with £40,850 in 2009-10 and £40,850 in 2010-11 to enable Show Racism the Red Card to deliver 152 Islamophobia workshops in secondary schools across Scotland.

Water Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the definition of water poverty as those spending more than 3% of their income on water and sewerage charges.

Stewart Stevenson: We recognise that this figure has been used by Waterwatch but we do not use it to guide policy in relation to water charges.

  Our policy is to deliver fair charges for all customers. Domestic water charges in Scotland are on course to be the third lowest in the UK by 2010. Water in Scotland costs on average across all households less than £1 a day, which is a flat rate irrespective of size of family or usage.

  In real terms water charges in Scotland fell last year.